The Eastern Michigan softball team dropped its series finale against Kent State, Saturday, March 25, at Varsity Field. The Eagles fell short 6-3 after they got a six-run hole early and a late push.
Sophomore Amanda Akles turned in all three of EMU's runs with a three-run bomb, her third of the season.
Junior Trisha Trujillo lasted only 1.1 innings after starting the game. She surrendered six runs on six hits and two walks, while striking out two. Entering in relief, sophomore Nicolle Miranda going 5.2 innings, allowed just one hit and striking out a pair.
Kent State later sent 10 batters to the plate in the top of the second, plating four more runs to push its lead to 6-0. The Golden Flashes used three hits and two Eastern Michigan errors to extend their lead.
Sophomore Sam Saporito was EMU's first baserunner of the afternoon. She reached on an error in EMU's half of the third. Saporito then moved to second on a sacrifice bunt, but a fly out to right center ended the Eagles' threat prematurely.
Miranda continued to roll in the fourth. The Eagles pulled off an unlikely double play as Miranda fielded the bunt and got the out. The green and white caught KSU's lead runner in a rundown and won the battle as Chretien applied the tag. Miranda completed the 1-2-3 inning with a slow roller back to the circle for the final out of the frame.
The fourth began with a one-out single by junior Brandice Olmos. Sophomore Olivia Logan followed suit with a base knock through the left side to put two on with one out for Akles. Akles cut KSU's lead with one bat swing.
The game became a pitcher's duel, as Miranda and KSU's Ronnie Ladines allowed just one hit apiece the rest of the way. Unfortunately, Eastern Michigan could not overcome the early deficit, dropping the finale by a 6-3 score.
Eastern returns to action against Notre Dame, Wednesday, March 29, in South Bend, Indiana.
